Minchin savaged on car imports

Prime Minister John Howard was forced to intervene in a bitter brawl in the Coalition party room yesterday over a new system for regulating the importation of used cars.

20 June 2000By MICHAEL GORDON, National Editor

Prime Minister John Howard was forced to intervene in a bitter brawl in the Coalition party room yesterday over a new system for regulating the importation of used cars.

Mr Howard's action came after Industry Minister Nick Minchin (pictured) was branded a "disgrace" for dismissing calls from two MPs for a compromise to protect legitimate used car importers.

Senator Minchin had dismissed requests from two MPs, Bob Charles (Lib, Vic) and Judi Moylan (Lib, WA), for more discussion on the regulations, saying they had already been approved by a backbench committee.

He told the minister to listen to his backbenchers for a change, rather than bureaucrats and his office advisers.

The attack was later described by some MPs as the strongest on a minister in the government party room since the last election.

A number of MPs, including West Australian Liberal Geoff Prosser, appeared ready to continue the attack when Mr Howard intervened, agreeing to meet Mr Charles, Ms Moylan and Mr Prosser to discuss the matter.

The MPs are concerned that the new regulations, which replace a system of bulk approvals with one of vehicle-by-vehicle inspection, will threaten some small importers of used sports and specialist vehicles.

Although the new policy, announced in May, was designed to strike a balance between the needs of the local manufacturing industry and importers, the MPs believe the regulations are skewed in favor of the manufacturers.

"I think that we've got to find a way through this that doesn't jeopardise new manufacturing, which would be counter-productive, but at the same time looks after the interests of legitimate small business people," Ms Moylan told The Age last night.

"Nobody has any qualms about cleaning up some sections of the low-volume industry. That's been acknowledged by everybody."

A spokesman for Senator Minchin declined to comment.

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The size of your tyre is located on the sidewall of your tyre.It will be similar to the sample below.